The Cosmopolitan Cabaret will have new tenants soon, as the California Musical Theatre has pulled out of the downtown entertainment venue. According to an article in the Sacramento Bee, local restauranteur Randy Paragary will take over theater operations to open a nightclub called The Assembly. At 10th and K Streets, the cabaret includes a 200-seat theater and shares the ground floor with Cafe Bernardo on K and the KBar, which Paragary operates. Local historian William Burg said this is good news for Sacramento, as it lacks many medium-sized performance spaces. "It's also a natural synergy with the growing number of dance clubs and live music venues around K Street like Marilyn's and She

The last debate between Steve Hansen and Joe Yee took place at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret on K and 10th streets Tuesday night. In a cordial showdown, the differences between the two candidates seemed arguably lessened, as both men agreed that any winner would be good for Sacramento. “After over a year of campaigning, I think a lot of issues have come to the fore,” said Hansen. “Joe (Yee)’s been a great person to run against because we both deeply care about this city.” Within the immediate downtown/Midtown/Land Park area, the race for City Council has been a close one. There were only 75 votes between first and second place during the primaries in June. Even this late in the race, there we

photographs by Barry Wisdom / Jerry Lee said his personal experience with romantic relationships wasn’t the most-likely reason that California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale cast him in CMT’s current production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” The 1996 Jimmy Roberts-Joe DiPietro Off-Broadway hit, which plays the Cosmopolitan Cabaret Sept. 28 through Nov. 18, takes a look at the trials and tribulations of hooking up, from first dates to marriage vows, from in-law interference to home-buying via a series of musical vignettes. But like so many up-and-coming theater professionals, the Sacramento native’s days and nights have not been all about those meet-cutes,

I go into every production with an open mind — given that we all have biases of some kind, regardless of how we try to tamp them down. I go into every situation with the intention of assessing its overall quality, and taking back to readers enough of an overview to let them make up their own minds about whether or not the event might appeal to them. But I would be lying if I said that when I entered the lobby of Cosmopolitan Cabaret and read the words “comedy,” “farce,” “magic” and “music” in the promotional material for “Triple Espresso,” my first reaction wasn’t dread. I was not much encouraged when, immediately upon opening, the audience was included in the show. Audience participati

Whether you’re aware of it or not, chances are you’ve encountered the work of California Musical Theatre (CMT). The Organization oversees and organizes logistics for the wildly popular Music Circus, Broadway Sacramento, and Cosmopolitan Cabaret seasons. With a full-time staff, and a strong crew of temporary and seasonal staffing as needed, CMT is responsible for overseeing the elements of these three musical theatre seasons, all of which succeed in bringing top-notch musical theatre performances to the Sacramento region. In addition to producing and presenting high-quality theatrical shows, CMT runs educational programs through the California Musical Theatre Academy (CMT Academy). CMT Aca

Cosmopolitan Cabaret’s Triple Espresso is one shot of musical comedy, one shot of slapstick antics, one shot of audience participation—and is hilarious on all accounts. The vaudeville-style show is centered on the reunion of the semi-successful, but ultimately failed, trio act of “Maxwell, Butternut, and Bean.” With the help of the audience (no one is safe from the spotlight here), the three performers recount their downward crawl to fame using magic tricks, “nude” dancing, sing-alongs, and the most impressive shadow puppetry you’ll see this side of kindergarten. Hugh Butternut (Michael Pearce Donley) is the act’s piano man, Bobby Bean (Bob Stromberg) the loveable idiot, and Buzz Maxwell

New/Hot The very hot “True West” opened to critical acclaim Saturday at Capital Stage. SacPress colleague Barry Wisdom did a great, informative preview with several excellent photos that really capture the show. Grab a ringside seat to some of the funniest, most intense family squabbling ever written and performed. Tickets and More Information Opening/In Previews “Barrymore”    Sacramento Theater Company  Pollock Stage In previews, opens Saturday night. High expectations for a play from William Luce who specialized in one person plays. Luce is best known for “Belle of Amherst” his one woman show originally staring Julie Harris. Broadway veteran Gregory North stars as John Barrymore

Cosmopolitan Cabaret opened with the September 2008 to September 2009 run of “Forever Plaid,” which remains the biggest success as a show. “Forbidden Broadway,” which opened Friday night, may just rival “Plaid.” There are lots of similarities. Both have talented creators, lots of hysterically funny scenes, songs, costuming, props and more. "Forbidden Broadway" creator and continuing writer, Garrard Alessandrini, aims his sharp pen at mostly easy targets but in incredibly funny ways. You may never have seen “Annie,” “Les Miserables” or “Lion King,” but are still very aware of them and lots of other Broadway shows through popular culture. Both have four very talented actors, who understa

Sacramento Theatre Company associate producer Michael Laun shakes up the STC Cabaret format with some good surprises. SacPress community contributor writer/photographer Barry Wisdom has a great preview of the latest show. Changes included the type of theme. Many previous shows have centered around specific composers. “Make Em Laugh” which runs for a short four show run this weekend on the STC Cabaret Stage, is centered around the title subject. It is a collection of songs, many of which are very well known songs by extremely well known composers from timeless shows. Many of the songs are also from “who wrote that”? Great song, but “what show”? Never heard of it. And it all works well tog

William Selby remembers well when he first heard about a little cabaret show that was generating buzz among New York theater fans. “I was a full-time actor at the time, and I had a roommate who was a waiter at this place – Palsson’s (Supper Club) on West 72nd Street,” Selby said. “He came home one night raving about something called ‘Forbidden Broadway’ and did a number for me. “I fell off the bed laughing – I knew I loved it right then and there.” Selby wasn’t the only one who embraced Gerard Alessandrini’s concept of a satiric revue that both celebrated and skewered musical theater. Since its opening 30 years ago this month, “Forbidden Broadway” played almost continuously in New Yor

New Helvetia Theatre ends its three-weekend run of Michael John Lachiusa’s off-Broadway show “Little Fish” this weekend. While Lachiusa is known for two Broadway shows, "Marie Christine" and "The Wild Party," he has written several smaller-scale off-Broadway shows. Most of these have a reputation of being very serious. “Little Fish” is one of his lighter works and was suggested from the short stories of Deborah Eisenburg.   “Little Fish” is New York City-centric. It is the setting of the play, and some of the interactions of the characters can be described as very “New York.” The play itself is part of a genre of musicals, many by Lachiusa, that are specifically written for off-Broadway w

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Running through January 2012: Bingo The Winning Musical at Cosmopolitan Cabaret at 10th & K street in Sacramento. Shows at various times. Tickets are $32.00- $48.00. Friday, October 14th: Journey with Foreigner & Night Ranger at Sleeptrain Amphitehatre. Concert at 7PM. Tickets are $30.00 - $280.00. Saturday, october 15th & Sunday, October 16th: Sacramento Philharmonic presents Rachmaninoff featuring pianist Olga Kern. SAT at Sacramento Communit Center Theatre at 8PM. SUN at Thr

Some Bingo players are notorious for not letting anything get in the way of their Bingo night. That is definitely the case of Vern, Patsy and Honey, the trio of women at the center of “Bingo the Winning Musical,” which opened this last weekend at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret. The show begins with our trio of bingo addicted ladies listening to emergency weather reports describing a major storm raging outside. No one should leave their home except in the most dire emergency, but does this faze our intrepid gang? Not in the least. Besides, this is not just any Bingo night. This is the anniversary of the local bingo parlor featuring a double prize! No little storm is going to keep our girls away

On sporadic Sundays an audience gathers in the cosy Geary Theater in Midtown for an evening of songs performed by some of Sacramento’s best actor/singers at a cabaret event known as Graham-A-Rama, named after its’ founder and musical director Graham Sobelman. In June Graham-A-Rama did something different. They devoted a weekend to three performances of William Finn’s one act musical play “In Trousers” in concert. “In Trousers” which Finn wrote the book, lyrics and music is the first of what became trilogy of three one act plays. Finn joined with James Lapine to create two more one act plays “March of the Falsettos” and “Falsettoland.” The second two shows were combined to create a two act

Last Thursday B Street Theatre previewed  a new concept to a sold out house at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret  after Cosmo Cabaret regular show of the evening, "Defending the Cave Man."  The new concept is sketch comedy and some improv performed by some of B Street's funniest actors.   The actors in the show along with B Street producing artistic director Buck Busfeild wrote the material. Think the funnier sketches from "Saturday Night Live"   B Street veteran Dave Peirini emcees along with appearing in several of the sketches.  Peirini has appeared in many of the funniest shows at B Street over the years including last seasons opener "Love Child"  The SacPress review of "Love Child" started wi

Los Angeles-based actor Cody Lyman is the first of four actors appearing in the solo show “Defending the Caveman” at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret. A review of the show was published earlier on SacPress. SacPress caught up with Lyman on his day off Tuesday. You grew up in Durango, Colo. How did you end up being an actor? I was a baseball and football player in high school. Played in an all-state game. Didn’t think I was good enough for college. I fell into acting in college. Kept going. It seemed like a lot of fun. It was a good group of people. I feel that theater is pretty important. It helps people look at the world. “Defending the Caveman” is about more than just male-female relationshi

Is there a difference in how men and women communicate? Do they, in fact, view the world differently? Rob Becker’s comedic play “Defending the Caveman” demonstrates not only that this is true, but that this can be traced all the way back to when Homo sapiens lived in caves. Now don’t confuse “Defending the Caveman” with some academic lecture. The show is much more akin to stand-up comedy — stand-up comedy with a nice set design, sound track and introduction video. Speaking of the set, it looks like Fred and Wilma Flintstone meet HGTV. The Cosmopolitan Cabaret production of “Defending the Caveman” opened Thursday evening with Cody Lyman in the role of today’s caveman. Lyman is one of sev

The struggling California Musical Theatre in Sacramento will receive $300,000 from the city to help it stay afloat. The Sacramento City Council unanimously decided Wednesday to loan the amount to the theater over the next three years. The theater can withdraw the money in $50,000 increments each quarter until the $300,000 total is reached, according to a report by city staff. The money will go toward the theater’s operations. California Musical Theatre runs Music Circus, the Broadway Series and Cosmopolitan Cabaret. “It’s an important piece of downtown,” Councilman Jay Schenirer said, referring to the theater. The business the theater brings to downtown is “incredibly important,” he add

Theater Openings “The Bell of Amherst” Sacramento Theatre Company Opened Saturday Great performance by Jackie Vanderbeck SacPress review       Schedule and Tickets "FROM GODSPELL TO WICKED: The Musicals of Stephen Schwartz"  STC Cabaret                                                                                      Thursday through Saturday only    Last of STC Cabaret shows this season                                                                                                                     SacPress preview      Tickets and Info   “Young Frankenstein” Broadway Sacramento Opens Wednesday April 13   Mel Brooks’ insanity brought to the stage Schedule and Tickets Last Chanc

New Helvetia Theatre is dedicated to performing American musical theater shows. Their selection tends to be contemporary, as the most recent productions were “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “tick, tick, Boom!,” “It’s Only Life” and “[title of show].” The current production, “They’re Playing Our Song,” reaches much further back, to December 1978. The book is by one of American theater’s most established playwrights, Neil Simon. The composer is Marvin Hamlisch and the lyricist is Carole Bayer Sager. The book is based very loosely on their personal relationship at the time. Both Hamlisch and Sager are also very established popular songwriters. The show was a success on Broadway and continues